Biographical Sketch

Second Kings tells the life story of Josiah. I learned that Josiah was a courageous king, and he had inherited a tainted throne and a despised crown. Josiah’s grandfather, Manasseh, was remembered as the king who filled Jerusalem “from one end to the other with [the people’s] blood: (2 Kings 21:16). Josiah’s father, Amon, died at the hands of his own officers. I believe Josiah desired something more than a tarnished family legacy. In the end, Josiah served the God of his forefather, David. Josiah tore down the altars of false gods and had the temple of the Lord rebuilt. Because of Josiah’s repentance, his nation was sparred the wrath of God.

I can relate to Josiah because I too did not have a relative or ancestor to teach me about God, the Bible, or Jesus. I was raised in Spencer, IA, and attended a local Methodist church until I went to college. I often attended Sunday school from third grade through high school. At fourteen years of age I was baptized and confirmed into the church. I did all the things I considered a “good” person should do – I prayed to God, occasionally read my Bible, attended worship services, and served as an altar boy. By all outward appearances, I looked like I had it all together. But in reality there was so much separation and deception lurking "behind the scenes" in my family. My father, for years, struggled with drinking and for a short time my parents separated. By God's grace, my mom and dad came together and reconciled. My father’s father passed away due to complications from alcoholism. I made it known I was not going to walk down the same dark path of drinking and alcoholism. Just like Josiah, somehow I was going to be different. As I reflect on significant events in my life, there was a time when a difference had been made in my life.

I had the most wonderful, Christian friends anyone could ask for in high school. Despite being a “good” kid, I had not entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Due, in large part, to the influence of my closest friends I had made a personal commitment to live my life for Jesus Christ. I trusted my best friends loved me and I knew they all had something I did not and I wanted that “something”. Retrospectively, it was only a matter of time before I accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of my life. I prayed for Him to forgive me of my sins, and I asked Him to come into my heart and I entered in to a personal relationship with Him. I prayed a prayer something like, “Jesus, I need you in my life. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and accept you as my Lord and personal Savior. Thank you for forgiving my sins. Make me the kind of person you want me to be.” Although nothing magical or miraculous happened that day, I now see how my life had changed since then.

My college years at the University of South Dakota were filled with times where Christ reigned and produced much fruit in my life, but there were also dry times where sin separated me from my relationship with Christ. During my collegiate years, I struggled with sin that tempts many college-aged males. I am a witness of the redemptive power of Jesus Christ and how he has changed my life. Four years after I had first committed my life to Christ, I recommitted my life to him. By the Lord’s grace and power I have made lasting changes in my life where those past sins have not had a foothold to snare me.

I pray that as I get older, my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will remember all the things I will have taught them about the love and life lessons of Jesus Christ. I hope to leave a long-lasting legacy behind me.